Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Numerator:
Net income (loss) attributable to ZAIS Financial Corp. common stockholders	$ 23,173,931	$ (6,780,401)	$ 25,398,136	$ (5,121,179)
Effect of dilutive securities:
Net income allocated to non-controlling interests	2,698,204	(788,476)	2,956,858	(489,382)
Exchangeable Senior Notes
Interest expense	808,629		1,613,628
Gain on derivative instruments	(269,635)		(207,462)
Total - Exchangeable Senior Notes	538,994		1,406,166
Dilutive net income available to stockholders	$ 26,411,129	$ (7,568,877)	$ 29,761,160	$ (5,610,561)
Denominator:
Weighted average number of shares of common stock	7,970,886	7,970,886	7,970,886	6,564,284
Effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted average number of OP units	926,914	926,914	926,914	926,914
Weighted average number of shares convertible under Exchangeable Senior Notes	1,779,560		1,779,560
Weighted average dilutive shares	10,677,360	8,897,800	10,677,360	7,491,198
Net income per share applicable to ZAIS Financial Corp. common stockholders - Basic	$ 2.91	$ (0.85)	$ 3.19	$ (0.78)
Net income per share applicable to ZAIS Financial Corp. common stockholders - Diluted	$ 2.47	$ (0.85)	$ 2.79	$ (0.78)